Brave Women! Protect Yourself and Those You Love!

As a woman born and raised in Haiti, I am aware of the various HIV misconceptions and stigma that are still present in the Haitian community. I want to use this platform to educate and encourage others to take the necessary steps in preventing and treating HIV.

On this National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I would encourage my Haitian women (Haitian immigrants and Haitian-Americans) to get on the offense and protect their health and that of their loved ones. I call on Haitian mothers to ensure their girls are equipped with the tools necessary to make informed decisions about their sexual behaviors. It is certainly not the norm in a Haitian household to openly discuss sexual risks and behaviors, but it is necessary. Although my experience was different, countless of my Haitian peers had almost no sexual education at home. It often came with the onset of a girl’s menstruation, and was simply an acknowledgement that she could now bear children and should steer clear of boys.